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In this episode, we dive into the rugged and ruthless world of “Yellowstone,” where questions of legacy, land, and loyalty play out against a stunning yet unforgiving backdrop. Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky explore the show’s themes of justice, tradition, and the pursuit of power, asking what it means to protect — and even “make great”— a place or a way of life. How does “Yellowstone” reflect broader struggles over identity and belonging in America today, especially in light of the 2024 presidential election, which took place the day before this episode was recorded? Join us for an exploration of this modern Western’s deep moral undertones and cultural resonance.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

‘Inside Out 2’ is the sequel to the critically acclaimed and widely beloved 2015 Disney/Pixar animated film ‘Inside Out,” and is proving to be just as successful. By depicting the inner life of an adolescent girl, these films explore how our emotions shape us, for good and for ill. The sequel adds to this by examining the dynamic relationship between our feelings, especially anxiety, and our core beliefs and identities. Does Jewish tradition view our inner lives similarly or differently? Also, the story is intriguingly set when its protagonist, Riley, would become a Bat Mitzvah (if she were Jewish; the movie doesn’t say). What insights does Judaism have about the process and experience of coming of age from an emotional standpoint? Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky as they get into ‘Inside Out’!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

The new Hulu series ‘Under the Banner of Heaven,’ adapted from Jon Krakauer’s eponymous 2003 novel and starring Andrew Garfield, tells the story of a Mormon detective who begins to question his faith as he investigates fellow Latter Day Saints for brutally murdering a mother and her baby. In the process, it takes big swings at the LDS Church and religion in general, making the case that faith is inherently dangerous. Does it succeed? Special guest Peter Eubanks, a professor of French at James Madison University and lifelong member of the LDS church, joins Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky to talk about what the show does and doesn’t get right about his faith and religion generally. Does ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ understand the subject matter? Do we? Join us for this illuminating conversation about the LDS church, religious extremism, and interfaith understanding.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

Dune: Part 2, now streaming on Max, continues the sprawling epic adapted from Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi series. Featuring an all-powerful psychotropic mineral, a race of space witches, personal force fields, giant sandworms, Dune explores themes such as power, greed, the nature of heroism, and intersectional liberation — topics about which Judaism also has a lot to say. Also: is riding sandworms akin to Bnai Mitzvah? Let’s find out, as Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky go back to Arrakis on another interstellar episode of PopTorah!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!

In this episode, we dive into the thought-provoking Netflix series “Nobody Wants This,” exploring its funny and sometimes cringey take on identity, community, and the challenges of belonging. Joined by special guest Rabbi Talia Kaplan of Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas (whose hot take on the show recently went viral), Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky discuss the show’s rich Jewish themes, including the search for love and meaning, the impact of communal expectations, and clergy ethics. Together, we’ll unravel why this series resonates deeply in our contemporary world and why you might just find yourself actually wanting whatever ‘This’ is!

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

How do you listen to PopTorah? You have a lot of options you know? iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, RSS, it’s your choice!